Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Myth vs. Facts
Media reports claiming shortage of anti-TB medicines are False, Motivated and Misleading
All anti-TB drugs in the country are available with sufficient stock for time period ranging six months and above
Centre proactively undertakes regular assessments to evaluate the stock positions at various levels, from central warehouses to peripheral health institutes
There have been some media reports claiming a shortage of anti-TB drugs in India. Such reports are false, misleading, motivated and seem deliberately intended to deceive and misguide people.
The treatment of drug sensitive tuberculosis consists of two months of four drugs available as 4FDC  followed by two months of three drugs available as 3 FDC . All these drugs are available with sufficient stocks for time period ranging six months and above. Procurement process for these drugs for FY 2024-25 has also been started already.
The treatment regimen of multi drug resistant  TB consists of usually four months of 7 drugs  followed by five months of 4 drugs . In about 30% of persons with drug resistant TB, cycloserine and linezolid is required. Patients who are taking multidrug resistant TB medicines form only 2.5% of the total TB affected population. However, even for this group there is no shortage, as reported.
Procurement, storage, maintenance of stock and in-time distribution of anti-TB drugs & other materials are being done at the Central level under the National TB Elimination Programme . In rare situations, States are requested to procure few drugs locally for a limited period by utilizing the budget under National Health Mission  so that individual patient care is not affected.
As such, more than 15 months stocks of Moxifloxacin 400mg and Pyridoxine are available under NTEP. Also, Delamanid 50 mg and Clofazimine 100 mg were procured in August 2023 and supplied to all states and UTs. In addition to this, P.O has been issued on 23.09.2023 for the supply of additional 8 lakh qty of Delamanid 50 mg tablets.
In addition to the stocks mentioned above, the purchase orders were issued for the supply of 3 FDC, Linezolid-600mg & Cap Cycloserine-250 mg in August 2023. Pre-Dispatch Inspection  for 3 FDC, Linezolid-600mg & Cap Cycloserine-250 mg and Quality Test reports for 3 FDC and Cycloserine have come. These drugs are being dispatched to the states. Release Orders are being issued from 25.09.2023 onwards.
The current stock of these drugs mentioned in the article at National Level as on today as per Ni-Kshay Aushadhi is as follows:
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Drug Name
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Qty of Stock available at National Level under NTEP  as on today 
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Remarks
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Cycloserine -250 mg
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2,73,598
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- Stock in Pipeline - 1,49,02,850.
- Quality Test Reports have come.
- Release orders are being issued.
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Linezolid – 600 mg
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7,69,883
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- Stock in Pipeline – 52,70,870.
- Pre-Dispatch Inspection  was held on 23.09.2023 and
- Quality Test Reports is expected by 1st week of October 2023.
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Delamanid - 50 mg
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10,31,770
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- Purchase Order has been issued for additional 50% qty  which is expected to be delivered by October-2023
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Clofazimine - 100 mg
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45,26,200
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- Procurement process completed, and supply has already started.
- In addition to this, Procurement of 49.72 lakh tablets is under process.
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Moxifloxacin - 400 mg
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2,72,17,061
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- Sufficient stock is available
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Pyridoxine
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2,72,24,272
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- Sufficient stock is available
Besides the significant efforts made to ensure the availability of these essential anti TB drugs, regular assessments are conducted to evaluate the stock positions at various levels, from central warehouses to peripheral health institutes.
Hence, the information mentioned in the concerned media reports are not only inaccurate and misleading, but also do not reflect the correct picture of the available stock of anti-TB drugs in the country.